Light directing duct

ABSTRACT

A light directing duct includes a first end portion ( 2 ) and a second end portion ( 4 ), the first end portion ( 2 ) and second end portion ( 4 ) being interconnected by a hinge ( 30 ).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to light directing ducts, for example, as used todirect light from a skylight into a room of a building.

Light directing ducts, or “sun-pipes” are widely used to bring naturallight into a living or working space. The sun-pipe is a tube runningfrom the roof of the building to the ceiling of the living or workingspace, the inside of which is made from a light reflective material.Commonly known sun-pipes are straight tubes, running from roof toceiling, so that the light inlet must be positioned directly above thelight outlet. This necessitates the tube being cut down to fit againstthe slope of a roof, and means that the location one can choose to havea natural light opening in their living or work space is limited bywhere it is possible to make the light inlet in the roof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a light directingduct comprising a first end portion and a second end portion, the firstend portion and second end portion being interconnected by a hinge.

Preferably, the hinge is provided across only one side of the duct.

Preferably, the first end portion comprises a tongue which extends intothe second end portion. Most preferably, the tongue extends into thesecond end portion on a side of the duct opposite to the hinge.Preferably, the tongue is made from a flexible material, so that whenthe first end portion is rotated relative to the second end portion, thetongue is able to bend.

Preferably, the two sides of one of the end portions adjacent to theside of the duct with the hinge, comprise projections having curvedguide surfaces along which the other end portion tracks.

Preferably, the internal surfaces of the duct are adapted to reflectlight.

Preferably, the duct has a rectangular cross section. Most preferably,the duct has a square cross section.

Preferably, the duct is adapted for use between a skylight and a room ofa building.

Preferably, the hinge comprises a living hinge. The living hinge may beformed by scoring or otherwise weakening a sheet of material along adesired hinge line. The living hinge could be made from the samematerial as a wall of the duct. Preferably, the living hinge is formedfrom flexible material attached to a wall of the duct.

Various objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent tothose skilled in the art from the following detailed description of thepreferred embodiment, when read in light of the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross section through an embodiment of the light directingduct.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of a first end portion, perpendicularto the view in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of a second end portion, perpendicularto the view in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross section through an embodiment of the light directingduct when the first end portion is rotated about the hinge.

FIG. 5 is a 3-dimensional representation of the light directing ductwith the first end portion rotated about the hinge.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, FIGS. 1 to 5 show a light directing ductadapted for use between a sky light and a room of a building to bringnatural light into the room. The light directing duct comprises a firstend portion 2 connected to a second end portion 4 by a hinge 30. Theinternal surfaces of the duct are made from a light reflecting materialso that light is reflected down the duct from the skylight to the roombelow.

FIG. 2 shows a cross section of the first end portion 2, comprising fourside walls 6, 8, 10 and 12. FIG. 3 shows a cross section of the secondend portion comprising four side walls 16, 18, 20 and 22. The hinge 30connects walls 10 and 20.

A tongue 32 is fixed inside wall 16 of the second end portion andprojects into the first end portion adjacent to wall 6. Fixed insidewall 18 of the second end portion is a projection comprising a firstguide plate 34 which projects into the first end portion adjacent towall 8, and fixed inside wall 22 of the second portion is anotherprojection comprising a second guide plate 36 which projects into thefirst end portion adjacent to wall 12. The first and second guide plates34, 36 have the shape of a segment of a circle, centered on hinge 30such that the edges 35, 37 of the first and second guide plates adjacentto the tongue 32 are curved.

Referring to FIG. 4, if the first end portion 2 is pivoted about thehinge 30, the wall 6 of the first end portion of the duct rides up thetongue 32 and the curved edges 35, 37 of the first and second guideplates 34, 36, so that the duct becomes bent. The degree of the bend canbe adjusted to match the pitch of the roof to which the duct is to befitted. To install the duct, the second end portion 4 can be fittedfirst, and then the first end portion can be rotated about the hingeuntil the first end portion 2 abuts the roof evenly.

As mentioned above, as the first end portion 2 is rotated about thehinge 30, the wall 6, opposites the hinge, rides up the tongue 32, whichis fixed to the wall 16 of the second end portion 4, and slides againstthe inside of wall 6. The tongue 32 is preferably made of a flexiblematerial. The tongue is thus able to bend to seal off the gap betweenwalls 6 and 16. Similarly, the first and second guide plates serve toseal off the gap between walls 8 and 18 and 12 and 22 respectively, asthe first end portion 2 pivots relative to the second end portion 4about the hinge 30.

Such an arrangement ensures that no region is left uncovered when theduct is bent about the hinge and so little or no light is lost into theroof space.

FIG. 5 shows a 3-dimensional representation of the light directing ductin the bent position. Clearly shown are the tongue 32 bending with thefirst end portion 2 and the guide plates 34 and 36 guiding the tongue.

The hinge 30 may comprise a living hinge. This may be formed from thesame material as the sides of the duct, or may be formed from a flexiblematerial such as duct tape attached to the side of the duct.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, the principleand mode of operation of this invention have been explained andillustrated in its preferred embodiment. However, it must be understoodthat this invention may be practiced otherwise than as specificallyexplained and illustrated without departing from its spirit or scope.

1. A light directing duct comprising a first end portion and a secondend portion, the first end portion and second end portion beinginterconnected by a hinge.
 2. A light directing duct as claimed in claim1, wherein the hinge is provided across one side only of the duct.
 3. Alight directing duct as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second endportion comprises a tongue which extends into the first end portion. 4.A light directing duct as claimed in claim 3, wherein the tongue extendsinto the first end portion on a side of the duct opposite to the hinge.5. A light directing duct as claimed in claim 3, wherein the tongue isflexible so that it can bend as the first end portion of the duct isrotated relative to the second end portion.
 6. A light directing duct asclaimed in claim 5, wherein the two sides of one of the end portionsadjacent to the side of the duct with the hinge comprise projectionshaving curved guide surfaces along which the other end portion tracks.7. A light directing duct as claimed in claim 1, wherein the internalsurfaces of the duct are adapted to reflect light.
 8. A light directingduct as claimed in claim 1, wherein the duct has a rectangularcross-section.
 9. A light directing duct as claimed in claim 8, whereinthe duct has a square cross section.
 10. A light directing duct asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the duct is adapted for use between askylight and a room of a building.
 11. A light directing duct as claimedin claim 1, wherein the hinge comprises a living hinge.
 12. A lightdirecting duct as claimed in claim 11, wherein the living hinge isformed from flexible material attached to a wall of the duct.